Attractions on the Way to Tibet - Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery

Update: Feb. 26th, 2013

As of now there are few well known Buddhist Nun Monasteries in China. One of them is located in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Prefecture, and the other two are situated in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery

Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery was firstly built in AD 1327. It is called Sangtan Peigyelin in Tibetan language, located in a county of Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It adjoins Nanzong Monastery in the south. Acted as the largest Buddhist Nun Monastery of Qinghai Province, it is approximately 40 kilometers far from the county center. It is highly respected by Nyingma Sect (Red Sect). In recent years, as more people would like to enter to Tibet through the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, Yunnan-Tibet Highway, or Sichuan-Tibet Highway, etc, more little-known attractions along the way would be greatly appreciated by tourists. Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery is actually one of them and it is characteristic of the combination of the fascinating natural sceneries and significance cultural landscape.

History

It is said about 300 year ago, a Buddhist nun named Yeshi Zhuoma had sit in meditation and apprehend the religious doctrine for many years. One day her disciple found she cultivated herself in a cave of a steep cliff. She meditated years after years in very hard ambient environment and finally became the immortal. Afterwards, she was highly respected by the nuns in the Buddhism Nun Monastery.

The history of Nuns is actually a part of Tibetan Buddhism. According to the record, there were about 160 nuns in the Nun Monastery till the August of 1994. Most of the nuns are Tibetan people. The Living Buddha of Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery is Zhuolo and Gulang Gyasai, etc.

Architecture

Qinghai Buddhist Nun Monastery covers an area of 40 mu (1 mu ≈ 0.0007 square kilometers). It was surrounded by 8 towers. There is a scripture hall in the major building and it is the religious center of all the nuns here. There is a padmasambhava statue, and some other statues of great Buddhist masters, and many Buddhist scriptures, Dharma Drums, suona horns and other religious instruments, etc, in the scripture hall. In addition, there are individual 260 rooms for the nuns in the monastery, too.

Religious Principles

It is very strict of the religious principles of Qinghai Nun Monastery. The nuns could not leave out of the monastery secretly. They could not ask for leave without a reasonable reason. They are not allowed to eat the snacks such as the melon seeds. They can not read the books or magazines which do not belong to the monastery. They could not keep in touch with other monks unless there are public religious ceremonies with Nanzong Monastery and Nanzong Tashi Monastery. Even though they could go out of the monastery if there are some important public affairs, they are prohibited to overnight outside. When they are going outside, there must be two nuns together.

The Buddhist activities are usually held during the period of Lunar January, Lunar March, Lunar April, Lunar May and Lunar August. Many followers will come to the Qinghai Nun Monstery, Nanzong Monastery and Nanzong Tashi Monastery to worship.